James Deslonde
About James Deslonde
James Deslonde serves as the Head of Global Talent Acquisition at Flare, bringing extensive experience in employee relations from previous roles at notable companies such as Airbnb, Uber, and VMware. He holds a Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco and has a strong background in HR investigations, M&A diligence, and employment law compliance.
Current Role at Flare
James Deslonde serves as the Head of Global Talent Acquisition at Flare since 2023. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the recruitment strategies and talent acquisition processes on a global scale. His position is based in San Diego, California, and operates in a hybrid work environment. Deslonde's expertise in talent acquisition is complemented by his extensive background in employee relations and human resources.
Previous Experience in Employee Relations
James Deslonde has held several significant positions in employee relations prior to his current role. He worked at Equinix as the Director of Employee Relations for 11 months in 2005-2006. He then joined Genentech as Principal of Employee Relations from 2006 to 2010, followed by a role at VMware as Sr. Director of Global Employee Relations from 2010 to 2013. Deslonde also served as Director of International HR and Employee Relations at Twitter from 2013 to 2015, and later as Director of HR and Employee Relations at Uber from 2015 to 2016.
Educational Background
James Deslonde has a strong educational background with degrees from multiple institutions. He earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) in Business/Commerce, Employment from the University of San Francisco. Additionally, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from the University of California, Berkeley. He also completed a Mini-MBA program at Rutgers Business School, enhancing his business acumen.
Expertise in Global HR Practices
Deslonde possesses specialized knowledge in conducting and overseeing global HR investigations, addressing complex employee relations issues across various countries. He has expertise in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) diligence and integration, ensuring smooth transitions during such processes. His strong background also includes designing and managing equity and rewards plans that align employee incentives with organizational goals.
Career Progression and Leadership Roles
Throughout his career, James Deslonde has progressed through various leadership roles in human resources and employee relations. He served as Chief People Officer at Zynga for six months in 2016-2017 and was the Head of Global Talent Acquisition at Airbnb from 2017 to 2023. His career reflects a commitment to enhancing employee relations and talent acquisition strategies across multiple high-profile organizations.